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Announcing Cooperative Linux
evilmf writes "Well... I was on my daily "relaxing" read of the LKML when I've found an interesting announce about "Cooperative Linux", in this message from Dan Aloni. It allows you to run Linux on an unmodified Win2000/XP system, just launching another app. Dan says that Cooperative Linux is 'is stable enough (on some common hardware configurations) for running a fully functional KNOPPIX/Debian system on Windows,' and provides some screenshots in the project homepage."
You could almost get away with this using VMware, but now with this Cooperative Linux project, it doesn't matter anymore!
If this gets the attention that I think it deserves, this could literally shake apart the entire foundation of the folks who continue to decry Linux. Now a savvy admin who wants to use the Linux versions of Windows crapware can do so, without reinstalling the OS and incurring the wrath of the Microsofties. He gets the best of both worlds: high-quality free software running on top of the "sanctioned" OS. The only drawback to this thing, IMO, is that it may stifle the efforts of people who are trying to port some of the more sophisticated Linux apps to Windows, and may simply give up when they hear that because of this, no porting is required. But I doubt that will be a major issue.
Here's to hoping this project goes somewhere!
SCREW THE ADS! http://adblock.mozdev.org/ Proud user of teh Fox of Fire - Registered Linux User #289618
people who are trying to port some of the more sophisticated Linux apps to Windows, and may simply give up when they hear that because of this, no porting is required
Look at it the other way : if great linux apps are not ported to windows, but instead are delivered with an easy install of colinux+a small distro (the keyword here will be easy !) then more people will learn to know linux. And one day perhaps install it as 2nd OS on their machine, from which the step to primary OS is a small one !
When will I end this grieving ? When will my future begin ?
When I wan't to use *nix tools under Windows I've always trusted Cygwin, but I can see how this project can provide a good alternative to Cygwin XFree86 as suggested in the roadmap. This could also provide an excellent solution for developers to test interoperability between Internet Explorer and Linux webservers - especially if they are limited to one computer. It could also be used to educate people on using Linux, it is a perfect match with Knoppix in this respect.
Wine developers could use this compare apps running natively and those running under wine side-by-side.
When you send data to 127.0.0.1, which OS picks it up? This boggles my mind.
According to the web site, the architecture of the software that makes this all possible is very portable and could be ported to Solaris, for example , allowing the running of Linux/Sparc on top of it, at full speed. I would love to see this ported to OS X. I love my powerbook and I like OS X, but running linux at the same time would be a huge benefit for me. I'll be following this project closely.
Emulation and virtualization are the coolest technologies I've ever seen.
We all know how Windows assumes it is the only OS installed, when dealing with things like disk partitions, MBR's etc. How does the Windows NT kernel like sharing Ring 0 with Linux?
:)
That should be no problem. Vmware already locks partitions or even serial and USB devices for it's own use. Obviously you cannot share these partitions or devides with both operating systems, but one at a time is no problem at all.
You have gone from experimental boxes only, to dual booting to Live CD's to try Linux out (very slow...)
I don't know about really slow. CDROM are definately not _that_ slow anymore. My Dell laptop has no problem at all running knoppix, including sound, firewire, networking, usb support. As long as you have enough memory (256 at least, 512 mb runs great) it is not slow after startup either. And compared with a complete installation of linux it takes a lot less time. Upgrading is easy too
If a linux fan wants to show a Windows user what its all about then they can hopefully download one EXE and go.
That I must agree with. It would take a bit of pain out of that process. And they can still keep their freakin' MSN messenger running in the background.